[ Tue 5th Nov ] v Huntingdon Town, KO 7:45pm UCLP HOME

[Formic]

I'd like to see a bit more rotation of the forward players if things aren't working. Matt Gearing didn't seem to get much of a chance on the left in the second half, and perhaps there is some merit in moving Fazel to play off Dunkley as he did to such effect at Long Buckby, with Alfie taking a wider role on the right and Gearing on the left. As Starms has said, I think we've got the players we need, we just need a bit more luck and for them click together a bit more.

[Pete]

I think it's as simple as teams figuring us out. Most of the early season form was based around long ball to Dunks, get him to flick it on, and allow other players following up to create things. Huntingdon and PNS put two on Dunks every time, so he will struggle. If you get your team up, tell them all they need to do is really want it, bust a gut every 50/50 and really want to win those headers, then they'll close down play in that final third. How to deal with Taylor? His strength is running at goal, so just don't allow him to get to/control the ball, and bingo he's sorted. You're rarely going to do our full backs for pace, but you may well do the centre-halves, so be precise and fast with your counter attacks, and you're away. I would suggest that if any team follow that they'll do well against us.

For people mentioning certain people's effort levels, well I'm aware some players won't look like they're trying while they actually are, but I don't think you could say a single Huntingdon player wasn't switched on and battling for the whole 90, and sometimes that does make the difference. When the first was scored yesterday there didn't seem to be any geeing up of one another by the players, yet you could see how much it meant to the opposition, and they showed how a good game plan and team spirit can win through against (possibly) a better eleven players.

A learning curve, and the rest of the season will be very interesting.

[SouthRushdenJFC]

One question, was the not a MOTM if so why

That was me. Sean and Matt were the names mentioned and we have interviewed both in the last couple of weeks. I thought it would be better to get Parky out as there was no sponsor and I need something to work with.

[discodunk]

sorry,but fed up hearing about how many chances we make.chances dont count as goals.we could have a thousand chances,and not score!!! to me dunks will always win a ball,and flicks...but thats it.we just dontknow how to play off him.we need a prolific goal scorer who can read him.the rest of the team im sure are good enough,maybe a midfield general

[rudolph_hucker]

There is no plan B Dunk. We need to work out a second strategy so that after the first fifteen minutes of a game we can do something different. It might sound dramatic but what about PLAYING football instead of hoof ball to one striker that is often marked with two or even three defenders. We had/have some half decent wingers that can play, we also have a couple of midfielders that can also play yet we stick to route one all the time.

[Olly]

First on my wish list is King out and a new attacking midfielder in. I can't stand his attitude - sulking whenever he's not allowed to take free kicks and the ones he did take were awful - and his work-rate.

Dunks and Fazels attitude is just as bad if not worse, Fazel gives it away far too often yes they both score goals but so does Kingy, Dunks has missed a fair few lately too and they both don't always chase back, when Dunks blocked a goal bound shot on saturday he found it hilarious, if that was Alfie on the line and his shot he would of had a massive strop about it.

Have to agree, a lot has been made about some players' attitudes recently, whether the ones who have left or those that are still here, but I'm surprised no one has really mentioned Dunks' attitude. Our best and most important player no doubt about it, but I just wish he would stop constantly whining at not just the officials, but his teammates as well. A slightly misplaced goalkick from Crossy, he sticks his arms up in the air and moans, a poor cross from someone that he doesn't get he moans and there have even been a few recently where he overhit a lay off to Faz or someone and then proceeded to have a go at them for not magically being in the right place, when it was simply an overhit pass and he was the only one to blame.

I just think his expectations of his teammates are too high sometimes, I mean this is the UCL, players are not going to be able to put the ball perfectly on his head every time or always be on the same wavelength as him when going forward, so I just wish he could be more supportive of his teammates, rather than having a go at them all the time.

[Olly]

I think it's as simple as teams figuring us out. Most of the early season form was based around long ball to Dunks, get him to flick it on, and allow other players following up to create things. Huntingdon and PNS put two on Dunks every time, so he will struggle. If you get your team up, tell them all they need to do is really want it, bust a gut every 50/50 and really want to win those headers, then they'll close down play in that final third. How to deal with Taylor? His strength is running at goal, so just don't allow him to get to/control the ball, and bingo he's sorted. You're rarely going to do our full backs for pace, but you may well do the centre-halves, so be precise and fast with your counter attacks, and you're away. I would suggest that if any team follow that they'll do well against us.

For people mentioning certain people's effort levels, well I'm aware some players won't look like they're trying while they actually are, but I don't think you could say a single Huntingdon player wasn't switched on and battling for the whole 90, and sometimes that does make the difference. When the first was scored yesterday there didn't seem to be any geeing up of one another by the players, yet you could see how much it meant to the opposition, and they showed how a good game plan and team spirit can win through against (possibly) a better eleven players.

A learning curve, and the rest of the season will be very interesting.

Yeah I think you may be right, after his early season form and how central he was and is to our team, it wouldn't take a top scout to recognise that Dunks has to focussed on and failure to deal with him properly can mean you'll get ripped apart (as several teams have already found out). So understandably we've seen teams do whatever they can, including holding him and pushing him a lot of the time to prevent him from having an impact and I assume that's why I've heard quite a few opposition goalies shout 'Squeeze!' to their teammates recently as part of that response in trying to deal with Dunks. So its not up to Starms and the team to work out how not to be so predictable all the time, cause we've probably got the squad to be beating the vast majority of these teams.

[discodunk]

There is no plan B Dunk. We need to work out a second strategy so that after the first fifteen minutes of a game we can do something different. It might sound dramatic but what about PLAYING football instead of hoof ball to one striker that is often marked with two or even three defenders. We had/have some half decent wingers that can play, we also have a couple of midfielders that can also play yet we stick to route one all the time.

couldn't agree more lee ,but we have to use the players we have(we are a bit thin on the ground)and add a couple of players of quality.total lack of wing play second half.what peed me off last night was our total lack of desire to storm back and defend once we had lost the ball up front.huntingdon on the otherhand,as soon as they lost the ball,within seconds they were all back defending,,,,,they also hunted in twos.one would go for the challenge while the other mopped up,,,,,maybe starms might think about coming in the ebdon,,you don't half get a good view ;) ;)

[Formic]

Mal's pics added to the match report - http://www.afcdiamonds.com/afc-rushden- ... don-town-2 and the stats updated - http://www.afcdiamonds.com/201314-senior-stats and http://www.afcdiamonds.com/player_profiles